Launceston St John Ambulance were recently presented with a defibrillator by Mr Mike Heryet from the Bude branch of the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

The life saving defibrillator, which treats people suffering cardiac arrest, has been awarded by the BHF with fundraising arranged by the local BHF Bude committee.

Around 146,000 people suffer a heart attack in the UK each year, about a third of whom die before reaching hospital due to cardiac arrest. When someone suffers a cardiac arrest, their chances of survival drop by up to 14 per cent for every minute that passes, so a speedy response is crucial. Therefore, early defibrillation — within four to five minutes — gives the best possible chance of survival.

Cardiac arrests cause the heart either to quiver — known as fibrillation — or stop beating altogether. A defibrillator works by delivering a controlled electric shock through the chest wall to the heart to restore a normal heartbeat.

Owen Penney, the local fundraising volunteer manager for the British Heart Foundation said: "We would like to thank the people of Cornwall for their support of the BHF and we're delighted that their efforts have enabled us to provide a defibrillator for the St John Ambulance in Launceston. We hope the defibrillator never has to be used, but if it does, lives will be saved as a result."

This is the second defibrillator that the division has received from the British Heart Foundation.

"We are absolutely delighted," said Divisional Superintendent Tony Taplin. "This means that not only both ambulances carry a full resuscitation kit, but the divisional car will as well. This will enable the car to be used as a response vehicle if required. The whole division would like to say a big 'thank you' to the BHF for their help in this."

The BHF depends upon the work of volunteers to fund its vital work fighting heart and circulatory disease — the UK's biggest killer. BHF currently has a range of interesting and flexible home based volunteer opportunities to suit everyone, ranging from two hours a week to two hours a year.

For more information about the work of the BHF and volunteering opportunities please call Owen Penney on 01822 612310, email [email protected]">[email protected] or visit bhf.org.uk.